How Is Herpes Zoster Transmitted

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Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

What Is Shingles? Shingles is a very painful disease caused by the same herpes virus that causes chicken pox (varicella zoster virus). Like other herpes viruses, the varicella-zoster virus has an initial infectious stage, (chicken pox) followed by a dormant stage. Then, with no warning, the virus becomes active again. About 20% of people who have had chicken pox will eventually develop shingles. This reactivation of the virus is most likely to...

Ask the Experts

Herpes zoster virus

My daughter was exposed to the chicken pox virus and had a low immune system due to allergies and she did have a very light case of the chicken pox. The virus did stay in her body, we did see outbreaks on her elbow and knee which looks like the...

Response from Katherine Luzuriaga, M.D.

University of Massachusetts, Medical School

Chicken pox is the clinical manifestation of primary (first-time) infection with herpes varicella zoster virus. While the symptoms and signs of chicken pox clear with time, the virus remains with the host for life. The virus takes up residence in... Read more »

Herpes Zoster

Hello Dr. Joseph, I have three questions :1-Is Herpes Zoster considered as an HIV-related opportunistic infection?2- Does having frequent recurrence of Herpes Zoster means for sure HIV infection? ( I do have Zoster for 1 year now I am 29 years old...

Response from Joseph McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P.

North Shore University Hospital

Sorry to hear that you have suffered from herpes zoster (also known as shingles).Although zoster is more likely to occur in people with HIV it is not a condition that indicates AIDS. People without HIV infection also get zoster, and having zoster... Read more »

herpes zoster

hola doctor tengo 26 aos y me diagnosticaron herpes zoster... lo que queria preguntarle es si tiene algo que ver con los primeros sintomas del hiv. quiero decir si por que me salio este herpes podria sealar que me contagie de hiv por favor necesito...

Response from Steven M. Natterstad, M.D.

Frascino Medical Group

Hola,Es verdad que el riesgo de desarrollar herpes zoster en las personas viviendo con VIH es entre 15 y 25 veces ms alto que el de las personas seronegativas. Sin embargo, claro que esto no quiere decir que cada caso de herpes zoster ocurre en una... Read more »

Herpes Zoster

Hi!I recently (May 15 - May 22) had an episode of Herpes Zoster on my right leg which has left me with a very uncomfortable feeling, sometimes pain, on that side. I understand it could take weeks and even years for it to go away. All the little...

Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.

University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine

Sun exposure is not usually a trigger for Herpes zoster (shingles), although I'd advise you to use sunblock giid for both UVA & UVB sun rays so your life isn't complicated by skin cancer (I agree, HIV is quite enough to deal with).I... Read more »

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swollen lip nd Herpes Zoster

Posted by LLsexyLL, 1 Reply

On Wednesday I was just sitting and chatting with my colleague at work when I felt a funny sensation on the left part of my bottom lip, and then my lip just started swelling . I looked ridiculous like half my lip had been stung by bees. Three hours... Read more »

Herpez Zoster

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Dr. Urkie, o los que sepan, hace unos 4 dias me ha salido en la espalda un herpes zoster recien diagnosticado hoy, estoy con tratamiento de Aciclovir y Ketorolaco; pero lo que me preocupa es que he leido que ese tipo de herpes les dan a los... Read more »

BBC NEWS:Online dating for people with sexually transmitted infection

Posted by Hellen, 1 Reply

Dating can often be fraught with uncertainty and self-consciousness. For those with incurable sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are tailored websites the answer for people nervous of telling potential partners about their condition?

The past...

Herpes Window

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

I know this is slightly out of place, but there is no other good forum for sexually transmitted diseases that I could find. For those of you worried about obtaining herpes (I see a lot of questions about unprotected oral sex), the window period for... Read more »

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